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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The movie was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust people have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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